Mein Schiff 2 undergoes dry dock in Dubai during winter season in Middle East

Mein Schiff 2 of TUI Cruises has resumed service following the completion of her drydock in Dubai during the 2023/24 cruise season.

The ship went into Dubai Drydocks at the beginning of the year, and spent just two weeks out of service while technical overhauls and class surveys were performed.

On January 14th, Mein Schiff 2 was refloated and guests were welcomed onboard the following day.

In addition to the technical overhauls and class surveys, Mein Schiff 2 also received a new shore power plugas part of TUI’s goal to retrofit its entire fleet with shoreside electricity connections.

The environmentally friendly technology allows the vessel to connect to the local energy grid, reducing emissions while docked.

Mein Schiff 2 now resumes her winter cruise season in the Middle East, sailing week-long roundtrip itineraries from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Doha.

The week-long itinerary is highlighted by several overnights, including three in Dubai and one in Doha.

During its winter season in the region, the 2,900-guest ship will call in Khasab, in Oman, Dammam, in Saudi Arabia, and Sir Bani Yas, in the United Sarab Emirates.

At the end of her season in March, Mein Schiff 2 is set to offer a spring season in the Eastern Mediterranean, sailing from Antalya and Heraklion for a series of 7- to 9-night cruises to Turkey, Cyprus and Greece.

The work performed on Mein Schiff 2 is the latest development in Dubai Drydocks’ ongoing expansion into the cruise sector. 

The shipyard, which has for decades specialised in merchant vessels and offshore oil rigs and supply ships, began flexing its muscles in the cruise sector in 2018 with the bow-to-stern refurbishment of QE2 Dubai ahead of her launch as a floating hotel in Port Rashid.

The shipyard has also worked with AIDA Cruises, installing new features aboard AIDAstella including a new ice-cream bar in 2018, and in 2021 it undertook the refit and renovation of Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas after she was purchased by Indian cruise line Cordelia.

Dubai Drydocks also carried out the painting of new livery aboard Carnival Spirit and Carnival Splendour during their lay-up in Dubai during the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.